Combined laundering and drying machines



June 12, 1956 R. v. DYE

COMBINED LAUNDERING AND DRYING MACHINES Filed April 8, 1953 INVENTORQussau. DYE.

BY M

ATTORNEY 2,749,734 Ice Patented June'lZ, 1956 COMBINED LAUNDERING ANDDRYING MACHINES Russell V. Dye, Liberty, M0., assignor of two-thirds toJohn G. Sheldon, Kansas City, Mo.

Application April 8, 1953, Serial No. 347,434

2 Claims. (CI. 68-20) This invention relates to laundry machinery andmore particularly to domestic laundering machines of the automatic cycletype wherein laundry is Washed, rinsed and dried in the samecompartment.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine which iscapable of carrying out the sequence of washing, rinsing and drying thelaundry in a wholly automatic manner, and doing so with a minimum ofmechanisms.

With the machine of the present invention, the operator may place thelaundry, sprinkled with soap, in the tub, connect the electric circuitand cock the batch water supply valve; then leave the machine for anindicated period such as overnight. On return the laundry will be foundin the same compartment, washed and dried.

Another advantage lies in the elimination of outlet valves in thefunctioning of the machine.

Yet another advantage lies in the unifiow passage of rinsing water mixedwith agitating air which starts with the rich soap liquor mixture in theclothing and drives through to a wholly rinsed laundry, so tending tosweep disengaged dirt, and soapy solutions out of the laundry in aprogressive manner.

Other objects and advantages will be noted in the course of the detaileddescription on an embodiment of the invention which follows. Althoughonly one form of the machine is described and illustrated, it is to beexpressly understood that this is not to be construed as defining thescope of the invention, which scope is defined in the appended claims.

In reference to the annexed drawing, it will be noted that this is aschematic presentation of the invention which fairly exhibits the simpleand effective character of the machine.

1 is a whole tub of a washing machine. 2 is an internal subdit'idingWall extending from the top to near the bottom of the tub and formingwith a false perforated bottom 3 a semiseparate chamber 22. 4 is a drainsystem having, 41 a large overflow and 42 which is smaller than 41.There is a singed top 5 equipped with an air vent 7. Connected tochamber 22 is an air pump 6. 8 is a fresh water inlet through which 9 awater batch valve feeds a predetermined supply of water greater inamount than the capacity of drain 42 and less than the capacity ofdrains 41 and 42 combined. is an electric resistance unit mounted underthe tub to supply heat to water and air processes. 45 is the maximumlevel of still Water in the tub.

In operation laundry to be cleaned is sprinkled with soap and placedthrough door 5 on to false perforated bottom 3. Electric current isconnected to motor driving air pump 6 and the heat unit 10 and the waterbatch valve 9 is cocked to deliver a desired amount of water, whichflows, with the air through chamber 22 and the perforations in 3 on tothe laundry. Water and soap mix in the rising water level as waterdelivery of 8 and 9 exceed outlet flow of 42. This initially forms astrong liquor of soap and Water, very desirable in dislodging dirt. Thelaundry and water mix is agitated to further this process by themovement of the air through it. The water finally overflows through 41.and rinsing of laundry takes place asthe tub is filled plurality oftimes by valve 9.

After delivery of a predetermined amount of Wash and rinse water hasbeen effected by valve 9 it shuts off. The drying cycle is initiatedwhen lower drain outlet 42 finally empties the tub of water. At thispoint the heat source it) warms the air passing through the chamber 22in lieuof water, and the drying cycle begins on the laundry on 3 asheated air reaches the laundry through the perforations. Air pump 6supplies air and heater unit ill supplies heat until the current supplyis stopped after completion of the drying cycle. Vent 7 provides anoutlet for the air introduced and may be connected to a flue or outletif desired.

It will be noted that air pump 6 has its outlet or pressure sideconnected to chamber 22 to force air through. Instead it may, withfacility be connected to vent 7 on its suction side to effect thispurpose. This aspect of invention therefor really comprises an air pumpmeans to propel the air through chamber 22 and false bottom perforationsand into the main body of the tub.

A factor in the washing and rinsing phase is the combined flow of waterand air in a common direction resulting from placement of inlet 8 inchamber 22. unifiow action increases the apparent volume of waterbesides agitating it and further facilitates the removal of dirt andsoapy mixtures from the laundry.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is: l. A launderingmachine adapted to automatically carry out a cycle of washing, rinsingand drying laundry in the same compartment, the machine comprising atubhaving an internal subdividing wall extending from above thewaterline to a point near its bottom and dividing the volume into alarger and smaller compartment, 21 false perforated bottom in the largercom artment forming a. substantially continuous wall with the abovevertical wall to complete the division of the tub into a large chamber"partly and a smaller chamber laying partly beside and below said largerchamber; a water system connected to said tub comprising a plurality ofdrains one of which shall be mounted above the other, the upper of wshall have a larger capacity, a water supply cons having an inletcapacity larger than the lower drain 1 less than the combined capacityof the lower .i other drains, said inlet water connection having ametered volume water valve feeding said inlet, a cover for thelargerlaundry chamber and vent thereto and air pump means to cause movement ofair from the sm..ller subdivision through the false bottom and into themain chamber and a heat source mounted below the true bottom: of saidtub.

2. In a machine of the class described a tub having an internalsubdividing wall extending from above the waterline to a point near itsbottom and dividing the Volume into a larger and smaller compartment, afalse perforated bottom in the larger compartment forming asubstantially continuous wall with the above vertical wall to completedivision of the tub into a large chamber and a smaller This" 3 4 aplurality of drains one of which shall be mounted above References Citedin the file of this patent the other, the upper of which shall have alarger capacity, UNn-ED STATES PATENTS a water supply system connectionhaving an lnlet capacity larger than the lower drain and less than thecombined 1,054,990 SchWPerer 41 1913 capacity of the lower drain andother drains, said inlet 5 212031029 Parmdge June 41 9 Water connectionhaving a metered volume water valve 2,434,476 Wales 1945 feeding saidinlet; a cover for larger laundry chamber and 2,555,268 Chamber hn May1951 vent thereto and air pump means to cause movement of 2,607,209constantme 191 1952 air from the smaller subdivision into the mainchamber.

